Flashlight circuit closer for cameras



Jan. 28, 1941. NlCASTRQ 2,229,816

FLASHLIGHT CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR CAMERAS Filed Feb. 24, 1938 Inventor14.2.11]; 'c'casfro By @Mm- A itorneys Patented Jan. 28, 1941 UNITEDSTATES FLASHLIGHT CIRCUIT CLOSER FOR CAlHE RAS Aniello E. Nicastro,Garfield, N. J. Application February 24, 1938, Serial No. 192,377

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a flashlight circuit closer for cameras, thegeneral object of the invention being to provide means for closing thecircuit of a flashlight when the shutter of a camera is manipulated toopen the camera so that the flash will occur simultaneously with theopening of the shutter.

Another object of the invention is to so construct and arrange theattachment that it can be easily placed on a camera and withoutdetracting from the appearance of the camera and to make it usable withvarious types of flashlights now on the market.

This invention also consists in certain other features of constructionand in the combination and arrangement of several parts, to behereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accornpanying drawingand specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference will be had to theaccompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a rear View of the shutter carrying plate of a camera withthe invention attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a sectional View through the upper part of the cylinderwhich forms part of the invention.

As shown the camera has at its front the panel A which carries theshutter mechanism which includes a metal plate a connected to the rearface of the panel as shown in Figure 1. The operating means includes thecylinder I attached to the plate a with its top open and its bottombeing connected by a flexible tube 2 with the usual operating bulb, notshown. A tubular piston 4 is slidably arranged in the cylinder I and hasa transverse pin 5 passingthrough its upper end which engages a part ofthe shutter actuating means so that when the cylinder receives air fromthe bulb the piston 4 moves upwardly and the pin 6 actuates the shutter.These parts are of the usual or any desired construction and form nopart of my invention.

In carrying out my invention I provide a cap I for the upper end of thepiston 4, the cap extending upwardly to form the plunger 1' and said caphas a coiled spring Ill connected therewith and by turning the cap thespring III will be engaged with the pin 6 and by further turningmovement of the cap the spring will move downwardly on the pin until apoint is reached where the cap is tightly engaged with the top of thepiston. A second cylinder I I formed of non-conductive material isfastened by a metal clamp I2 to an angle bracket I3 attached to theplate a at the top thereof, the parts being so arranged that the cyl- 5inder I I is arranged above the piston 4 so that as the piston 4 israised by pressure upon the camera bulb the plunger 1' will enter a.hole I4 in the bottom of the cylinder I I and contact a metal plate I5which is normally held resting on the 10 bottom of the cylinder II by aspring IS in the cylinder I I and which has its upper end contacting orfastened to a metal plate I! fastened to the bottom of ametal cap I8 bya screw I9. This cap I8 is threaded in the upper end of the cylin- 15der II and has a socket 20 therein for receiving one end of a conductor2| which is held in the socket by a screw 22. A second conductor 23 isfastened to the clamp I2, as shown in Figure 1, and these two conductorsare enclosed in the g0 usual tubular covering 24 which passes through ahole 25 in the bottom of the panel A, the conductors being connected toany form of flashlight device to operate the same when the circuit isclosed. 25

Thus it will be seen that when the camera bulb is pressed, air will flowinto the cylinder I to raise the piston 4 which causes the pin 6 to openthe shutter and this raising of the piston will cause the plunger 1 tocontact the plate I5, 30 which may raise against the action of thespring I6, and as the plate I5 is electrically connected by the springIS with the plate I1 which is carried by the metal cap I8, electricallyconnected with the flashlight device, the circuit to such device 35 willbe closed and thus the bulb of the flashlight device will be ignited.Thus the flash will occur practically simultaneously with the opening ofthe shutter. It will be seen that all of the parts excepting the plugI8, spring I6 and plate I5 are 40 grounded so that when the plunger 1'touches the plate I 5 the circuit will be closed.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages andnovel features of the invention will be readily apparent. 45

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction andin the combination and arrangement of the several parts, provided thatsuch changes fall within the scope of the appended claims. 50

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a circuit closer, a hollow cylindrical mem-- ber verticallyarranged and formed of non-conducting material and having an opening inits bottom of less diameter than the interior diam- 5g 2. A contactengaging attachment for a camera shutter operating piston having a pinpassing across its upper portion, said attachment comprising a caphaving a portion fitting in the upper end of the piston and providedwith an upwardly extending contact engaging part and a coiled springconnected with the bottom of the cap and adapted to engage the pin fordetachably connecting the cap to the piston.

ANIEILO E. NICASTRO.

